Lesson 4471

 Lesson 4471)(04-30-24) John 1:43-51 

“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” 

 

Today’s quote relates that Jesus decided to go to Galilee and found Philip, whom He called to follow Him. Philip, from Bethsaida like Andrew and Peter, then found Nathanael and told him that they had found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Skeptical, Nathanael asked if anything good could come out of Nazareth. Philip told Nathanael to come and see for himself. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He described him as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. Surprised, Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him. Jesus replied that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree even before Philip had called him. Recognizing Jesus' divine knowledge, Nathanael declared Jesus to be the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus told Nathanael that he would come to see much greater miracles than those.~

Lesson 4470

(Lesson 4470)(04-29-24) John 1:35-42 

“Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” 

  In today’s quote, John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples as Jesus passed by. John declared, "Behold the Lamb of God!". The two disciples, Hearing John, followed Jesus. When Jesus noticed them following, He asked what they were looking for, and they asked Jesus where He was staying. Jesus then invited them to "Come and see," and they spend the day with Him. One of those disciples was Andrew, who then found his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messias," which is translated as "the Christ." Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Upon meeting Simon, Jesus looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas," which is translated is Peter.~ 

NOTE: It is important to acknowledge that John’s account of those events vary greatly from the other three gospel accounts wherein Jesus deliberately sought out Peter and Andrew to be His apostles.  

Lesson 4469

 (Lesson 4469)(04-28-24) John 1:29-34 

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” 

 

Today’s quote describes a significant encounter between John the Baptist and Jesus. As Jesus approached him, John declared, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." That proclamation identified Jesus as the sacrificial lamb prophesied in the Scriptures, destined to remove the sins of all those who would come to believe in Him. John also recounted how he did not initially recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but he knew that his purpose was to reveal Him to Israel through his the message that he brought and the ceremonial water baptisms he performed. John also shared a divine revelation he had received: the one on whom he saw the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This revelation came to be when John baptized Jesus and witnessed the Holy Spirit descending “like a dove” onto Him. John concluded his testimony by affirming that he had seen and could testify that Jesus is the Son of God. This passage highlights the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the divine confirmation of His messianic identity.~ 

NOTE: It is important to remember that, in today’s quote, John the Baptist clearly distinguished the difference between the importance of the soul saving baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus would perform and the ritual water baptisms he (John) performed.